Generally, the governments of Mexico and the United States try not to comment on each other’s internal policies. But every now and then, an issue is too hot to ignore. U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano commented the other day that the Mexican army’s presence in violent Ciudad Juarez “hasn’t helped.”

This time, it was Mexican Ambassador to the U.S. Arturo Sarukhan’s turn. In a statement, he said his government views “with great concern” the “potentially grave effects” that Mexican nationals might risk while visiting or working in Arizona.

"The initiatives that criminalize the migratory phenomenon create space for an undue application of the law that amounts to racial profiling," the statement said. The measure could impair commercial, touristic, cultural and friendly ties "that have characterized the relationship of Mexico with Arizona," the statement said.

The full statement is on the Mexican Foreign Ministry's website, in Spanish.